Release of fossil methane from mineral soil particles, and its implication for estimation of methane oxidation in a mineral subsoil

Abstract

In a preliminary experiment we found that methane evolved from a sandy subsoil during aerobic incubation of shaken soil slurries. In the study presented here the methane was found to be released from the sand particles by mechanical weathering, caused by the grinding effect of the shaking. Large amounts of gas (about 0.5 ml gas g⁻¹ soil) were extracted by intense grinding of the soil in gas tight serum vials. Methane was the main hydrocarbon in the emitted gas, but also a considerable amount of ethane was present, as well as minor amounts of heavier hydrocarbons (up to C₆). The δ¹³C-values of the emitted methane and ethane were --33 ‰ and --29 ‰, respectively. Together these results demonstrate a thermogenic origin of the gas. This paper also reports the results of an incubation experiment where possible methane oxidation was looked for. If a possible release of methane is not accounted for, methane oxidation may be overlooked, as illustrated in this paper. Methane consumption was detected only in soil from 40 cm, in contrast to soil sampled at 100 cm and deeper where a slight production was measured. When methane oxidation was inhibited by dimethyl-ether, a significant release of methane was seen. The release was probably caused by chemical weathering. When this methane release was taken into account, methane oxidation was found to be present at all measured depths (40 to 200 cm). Fertilization with urea inhibited the methane oxidation at 40 cm but not at deeper layers. It is hypothesized that ammonia oxidizing bacteria were the main methane oxidizers in this mineral subsoil (deeper than 1 m), and that oxidation of methane might be a survival mechanism for ammonia oxidizers in ammonia limited environments.